Rangolis For Dhanur Maasam

        



        So folks get ready for the Dhanur Masam. We have less than a month for the month long Rangoli Festival. 
              
       I am already on the job, creating new  Rangolis. This time I want to create some new ones. Please do drop in your suggestions as to what all new areas/subjects I can explore for this. 

    I will also try to post the usual traditional designs of Nela Muggulu, if I can find some of them. 

      If any one of you can contribute those traditional Nela Muggu - which are drawn using lines, please do, as they are becoming rarer and the present generation does not know much of those designs. 

        So watch out my blog.......

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Kartika Purnima Special

Today is Kaartika Purnima, the Full Moon in the month of Kartikam. It is very auspicious day. Lord Shiva and Lord Vishnu are worshiped. Today is good for spiritual sadhana or meditation.

 This is 21 dots to 1. But 13 dots is 2 times. That is 21, 19, 17, 15, 13, 13, 11, 7, 5, 3, 1. 

A closer look. 

Since Lord Shiva is worshipped today, I chose, Shiva Lingam, Lotuses, Bilva dalams(which are dear to Lord Shiva) and rudraksha. Hope you like it.

Light as many oil lamps as possible today in the evening, in and around your home and if possible in temples too.

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Zipper Bag

Here is a small bag. Made from sturdy jean cloth and lots of zippers with adjustable long strap. So Colorful.

Don't be mislead with so many Zippers. There are only 4 compartments. Two on one side and two on the other. All other zippers are for show.

 Looks like this underside and out side. 

Just enough to carry your mobile and some money. So you can use all those zippers lying around or recycle old ones and old jeans like this,

Here is another one. These are a great hit with teenagers and young ones. 

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Bows On Your Feet

Do you like Bows on your feet?  Well here is the latest footwear for ladies with bows...

Available in other colours too. But I would have loved if the bows were in white colour or white footwear with black bows -- that is in contrast colours. It would have made these footwear even more attractive. Don't you think so?

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Multi-Purpose Storage Bag

We women buy accessories every time we get a chance. Especially purses and bags-different sizes, shapes, colours and what not. Yes we do require them whether we are travelling, going for work or for partying. There are also bags for storage as well as for carrying jewellery, cosmetics and other things.

Here is bag, which you can use for storing, carrying your jewellery or cosmetics. You can use it carrying other things may be cheque books, cards etc? Children can carry their pencils, pens etc.

 But mind you it is transparent. 

 It is light weight, available in different colours and not much costly.

You can just drop this bag in your tote or a bigger shoulder bag. So this is good for multipurpose storage and use. 

Good as a gift too-to teenagers or our friends. 

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Green Magnolia

Hello there. Today, I want to share with you something from my garden. It is green Magnolia Champaka. This is the first flower, since I planted it. I am so happy to see it flower. It lifted my spirits. 

Magnolia is known as Champaka in Sanskrit, Champa in Hindi and Sampenga in Telugu. 

Magnolia trees/shrubs were found in most of the gardens of South Indian houses, when houses were built in big plots. Now, because of pocket sized gardens and apartments in cities, we hardly find any of these plants. But during the season, our markets flood with these flowers, which come from small towns and flower gardens cultivated by the farmers. 

I only know three colours of this variety. One is the yellow or golden coloured one known as the Golden Magnolia. This is the most common variety. Here we call it as Simhachalam Sampenga, and Lord Narasimha in Simhachalam(near Vishakhapatnam) is worshiped with these flowers. It is also found in abundance in the areas surrounding the temple.

Green coloured one is also popular. This is known as Aaku (means leaf)Sampenga. The yellow and green flowers are sold in the markets during the flowering season. But the white one is very rare and I have not seen its flowers in open market.It is said that this plant thrives well in Himalayas and likes colder climate.

The yellow and white ones are trees where as the green one is a creeper. But I am maintaining it as a shrub.

The scent of each of these varieties is different. I love all the three, but the white one is very delicate to look at and also, its fragrance is very subtle. The flowering season is also different as far as I can remember. The green and the white flower in winter. But the yellow one flowers in summer. I need to closely watch the flowering now. 

Though I had all the three varieties, the yellow one gets attacked by termites. I have planted it twice and both times as it grows, the termites attack and kill it. I am not able to save it no matter what I do. So I have to plant a new one. Here take a look at the white and green flowers from my garden. 

The green ones are very difficult to find between the leaves. One has to rely on one's nose to locate these flowers :). 

These flowers are used in offerings to Gods and Goddesses and also worn in the hair by women. Usually a single flower (or at the most 2 to 3) is worn in the hair. These are also used in perfumes and incense.

It is said that snakes get attracted to the scent of these flowers and I have heard many stories from my mom and grand mother how these shrubs are infested with snakes. But here in the city where I live, no snake would dare to enter, our human infested jungle..:)...

You can read more about these trees and flowers here:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Magnolia_champaca

http://www.flowersofindia.net/catalog/slides/Champa.html

I will keep you posted.......

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Diwali Special

21 to 1 straight dots. Wish you all a very Happy, Prosperous and Safe Diwali.

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Diwali Special

This time it is a square rangoli. Don't think it is small. If you spread out the dots-that is space out the dots, this may look much bigger. 

13 X 13 dots, 3 and 1 dots -extra on all sides for the Diyas(lamps). 

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Diwali Special

 5X5 Block

Swastika and Lamps and the colours of the festival. 

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Diwali Special

 6X6 block.

4 blocks put together. You can use one or more blocks as you like.

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